Prestige: Impact on fishermen and
fish farming
in Galicia
On November the 18th, the Spanish authorities banned all forms of fishing and shellfish harvesting along 96 km of the coasts of Galicia. The ban was spread to 498 km then to 554 km of coastline. This area is very rich in fishing and fish farming activities (oysters, mussels, turbots and many other species).
The Spanish government accompanied the ban by a financial aid to the 7,000 fishermen affected. Many of whom took part to oil collecting operations at sea and on the shoreline. Taste tests and HAP analysis were used to monitor the evolution of the situation and to resume activities progressively.
The
gathering and the fishing of shells in small boats in the
rias of La Coruña, El ferrol and Cedeira were authorized
again on the 1st of April 2003.The Galician fishermen different
fishing activities and areas were successively re-opened for these dates: February the 1st, the 25th, March
the 17th, April the 1st, the 14th, May the 1st, June the 2nd
and July the 1st. At the last date above, only a few areas
still remained closed for a handful of species, particularly
gooseneck barnacles.
Polluted mussel-breeding rafts (Source: Cedre)
Last update: June 2003